SCUM Leaves Early Access

06/17/2025

After nearly seven years in Early Access, SCUM has officially launched. Version 1.0 was released on June 17, 2025, on Steam.

About the Game

SCUM is a hardcore multiplayer survival simulator set in a vast open world. Players control prisoners dropped onto a massive island where they must survive, explore, craft, hunt, build shelters, and engage in combat. The game is known for its deep metabolism system, realistic mechanics, and high attention to detail. It emphasizes survival, tactics, and interaction with the environment.

What's New in Version 1.0

Complete visual overhaul and map redesign
New vehicles: seaplane, sports bike, and tractor
Armed NPCs and improved AI
Better anti-cheat system (BattlEye)
Revamped aiming and weapon animations
More realistic weather, moisture, and material behavior
New interface and performance optimizations

Built-in Tutorial and Learning Tools

A step-by-step tutorial mode introduces the core mechanics
Contextual tips explain crafting, combat, navigation, metabolism, and interface
Dedicated beginner-friendly servers with PvP disabled allow for safe exploration

No need to rely on external guides anymore — everything you need to survive is now inside the game.

What Players Are Saying

We analyzed reviews posted over the last 3 months to understand what players love, what frustrates them, and how they feel about the game overall.

What Players Love

Survival that actually means something.
Hunger, thirst, heat, stamina, body weight — everything affects how you play. SCUM is more than a survival game, it's a full-body simulator
A vast, immersive world.
The world feels alive: ambient sounds, weather, wildlife, day-night cycle. Many players enjoy simply roaming, hunting, and soaking in the atmosphere
Freedom to play your way.
Solo exploration, base building, PvE or PvP, roleplay or action — the game supports all kinds of playstyles
Memorable, emotional experiences.
Reviews often mention holiday fireworks, funerals for fallen friends, tense battles, and dramatic moments. SCUM creates stories worth telling

What Frustrates Players

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs.
Falling through the ground, stuck vehicles, missing items, broken base mechanics. Even after hundreds of hours, many ask: “Why is this still happening?”
A release that didn’t feel like one.
Many players expected a major leap with 1.0, but saw only minor updates. There's a sense that “full release” was more symbolic than substantial
Hard to play with friends.
Want to co-op? You’ll need to rent a server. There’s no simple “create a game and invite” system, which turns off casual groups
Weird, inconsistent design choices.
Can’t eat in vehicles. Hats erase your hair. Buildings collapse if you don’t place a dozen extra support beams. It’s hard to tell what’s intentional and what’s broken
Newcomers get punished fast.
Even with the tutorial, players die of dehydration, struggle with the UI, and get lost easily. SCUM still feels unwelcoming to beginners

Complicated Love

SCUM isn’t a fast-paced shooter or easy survival game. It’s slow, brutal, and demanding. But for players who accept its terms, it offers a depth and atmosphere few games can match.

Version 1.0 didn’t change everything — but it reminded people what SCUM could become. If the devs fix the bugs and smooth the learning curve, this could one day be a genre-defining classic. For now, it remains a game for the patient, the curious, and the slightly unhinged.